Microcosmos: the Invisible World of Insects

A companion volume to the award-winning, feature-length film Microcosmos , with some 90 color photos and cinematic sequences, as well as chapters on the insect life cycle, insect inventions, insects and flowers, and insect appearances. Also contains a chapter on the making of the film. No index. Oversize, 10x11.5". Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Nuridsany and Perennou, the biologists-filmmakers-directors of last year's celebrated documentary feature Microcosmos, have written a companion book that in some ways is more compelling than their film. The authors both hold master's degrees in biology and condense their expertise into a plain-language description of insect fundamentals: anatomy, life cycle, behavior, and the unique relationship between insects and plants. The text surrounds 90 close-up color photos of insects, including many images from their film. The epilogue, "Creation of a Film," describes cameras and microphones the filmmakers invented to better film their tiny subjects, including a 660-pound robotic camera for studio work and the Flying Cam--a 35mm camera mounted to a remote-controlled helicopter for filming dragonflies in flight. A must read for nature buffs and photographers alike. Ted Leventhal